Nov. 2, 2007

VIDEO: Swimming & Diving Season Preview

It was the first meet of the season, expectations were high, and for diving newcomer ýDavid Colturi excitement was in the air.ý

ý"I was a little nervous for the first meet but it was cool to finally be competing at the ýcollege level," said Colturi.ý

Exceeding his own expectations, Colturi scored 331.50 points off the 1-meter ýspringboard, breaking the freshman record of 323.85 points previously set by Danny Cox ýlast season.ý

ý"It's quite an accomplishment and a credit to how great of an athlete he is," said Purdue ýdiving coach Adam Soldati, "He wasn't able to train very much and yet he still performed ývery well."ý

Colturi only had a few practices under his belt before the Indiana Intercollegiates due to a ýstrained lower back. This injury has inhibited his diving off an on for more than a year, ýand as a result, he spends much of his time rehabbing through modified workouts from ýhis coach. ý

ý"This season has been rough so far because of my back, so we've been taking it easy," ýsaid Colturi. "I'm just hoping it gets better as soon as possible and I can get back on the ýhigher platforms and feel that rush again."ý

What attracted Colturi most to the Purdue program was the closeness of the swimmers ýand divers. Head swim coach Dan Ross always makes sure the divers feel part of the ýfamily. ý

ý"Diving was always a side show at all the high school meets, but here I really feel ýincluded and valued along with the swimmers," said Colturi.ý

ý"I knew from the start he would feel at home here," said Soldati. "He is definitely a ýBoilermaker now."ý

Colturi added, "It's weird because I feel like I was just a recruit here and now I am ýalready showing new people the ropes."ý

Colturi first started diving as a 7-year-old seven for his country club team alongside his ýthree older siblings: Amy, Julie, and Jason. By the age of 10 he had started to take diving ýmore seriously by practicing year round with coach Ed Goodman in his home town of ýSylvania, Ohio. Some years later he made regular trips to Eastern Michigan University, ýwhere he received instruction from coach Buck Smith.ý

Colturi's most memorable accomplishment before he joined Purdue was winning the East ýJunior National Championships during his senior year of high school, which qualified ýhim for an international meet based in Sheffield, England. Colturi also won a state diving ýtitle in his final season.ý

Soldati first noticed Colturi about five years ago as a club coach in Woodlands, Texas, ýand later approached him with an opportunity to dive for Purdue at a recent national ýmeet.ý

ý"He is just a phenomenal athlete, and was really quick and explosive with his dives," ýraved Soldati. "He really embodied the characteristics to be an elite diver."ý

ý"I knew he was a great coach from talking with previous athletes that worked with him," ýsaid Colturi. "I just felt like I fit in with his program. He has become like a second dad to ýme at Purdue."ý

Now as the season heats up and more meets are approaching, Colturi is looking forward ýto the Big Ten Championships, NCAA's and getting to travel with his team. Soldati ýwants him to have a routine for big meets where he can focus on himself and not get ýdistracted by scores and results.ý

Busy with school, practices and rehab, diving is the best way for Colturi to escape the ýstress of everyday life. But even this diversion can last only so long because of his lower-ýback strain.ý

As stress buils up, Colturi finds solace in a piece of Soldati's advice - `Focusing ýon things you can't control will adversely affect the things you can control.' Colturi ýreflects on this line throughout his days since it not only applies to diving but to life in ýgeneral.ý

Purdue returns to action this weekend, playing host to Notre Dame, Northwestern and ýTexas A&M. Colturi seemed optimistic that he could compete, but Ross listed his diver ýas questionable, realizing its more important to have him healthy for the championship ýportion of the season.ý

The Boilermakers compete against Notre Dame and Texas A&M Friday starting at 5 p.m. ýThey battle the Aggies and Northwestern Saturday at 1 p.m.ý

Admission to all Purdue home swim meets is free and open to the public.

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